Steroid total synthesis and intermediates

ABSTRACT

A new steroidal synthesis process is described wherein the steroidal nucleus is provided by a Diels-Alder reaction between a 2,6-lower alkylbenzoquinone and a suitably substituted 1-vinylnaphthalene compound. Depending on the nature of the naphthalene compound it is possible to readily prepare estrones, progesterones, androstanes and cortisones having the natural configuration or if desired having the retro configuration.

I United States Patent [191 Valenta [451 Nov. 18', 1975 4] STEROID TOTAL SYNTHESIS AND 7 OTHER PUBLICATIONS INTERMEDIATES a [75] Inventor: Zdenek Valenta, Fredericton, 932 3 2 z i Reactlons VOL pp.

Canada v [73] Assignee: lILIIoffman-La Roche Inc., Nutley, y- EXaminQLGeraId A Schwartz .J. Attorney, Agent, or FirmSamuel L. Welt; Jon S. [22] Filed: Aug. 23, 1973 Saxe; George M. Gould [21] Appl. No.: 390,827 Related US. Application Data [57] ABSTRACT [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 261,853, June 12, A new steroidal synthesis process is described wherein 1972, O- 5. the steroidal nucleus is provided by a Diels-Alder reaction between a 2,6-lower alkylbenzoquinone and a 60/586 E; 260/3 60/488 CD; suitably substituted l-vinyl-naphthalene compound.

260/590 Depending on the nature of the naphthalene com- [51] Int. Cl. C07C 45/00 pound it i possible to readily prepare estrones, pro- [5 8] eld O Sea 260/586 0, 488 gesterones, androstanes and cortisones having the nat- 260/3409 ural configuration or if desired having the retro configuration. [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS v 7 Claims Drawmgs 3,454,600 1969 Taub 260/586 E or 1 with the proviso that if either is I then the other STEROID TOTAL SYNTHESIS AND:

INTERMEDIATES RELATED APPLICATIONS This is a continuation-in-part of patent application, Ser. No. 261 ,853 filed June 12, 1972 now US. Pat. No. 3,876,705.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improved process for the total synthesis of pharmaceutically valuable steroids wherein the steroidal nucleus is obtained by a Diels-Alder reaction between a 2,6-lower alkylbenzoquinone of the formula wherein R, and k both independently are C -C lower alkyl and a l-vinyl naphthalene compound selected from compounds of the formulae wherein R is hydrogen, C C, lower alkoxy, C C

aryl lower alkoxy or C -C acyloxy; R R R and R are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen or C -C lower alkyl; R is oxo, C -C lower alkylenedioxy, C -C arylenedioxy, H,H or H,R where R is C -C lower alkoxy, C- -C aryl lower alkoxy or C -C acyloxy; R is C -C lower alkyl or C -C lower alkylene, A is an additional carbon-carbon bond between positions 5 and 10; B is an additional carboncarbon bond between positions 4 and l 0; m and n are so as to produce a compound selected from the formulae:

wherein R R R R R R R-,, R,,, R,,, A, B, m and mediates of the formula V are obtained when the hexa- 1 or octa-hydronaphthalene compounds of formula III are used. Furthermore, the hydrogen atom at the position 10 may be cis or trans to R as shown by the wavy line in formulae III and V.

As used herein the term lower alkyl" is meant to include straight or branched chain saturated hydrocarbon radicals such as methyl, ethyl, i-propyl, n-butyl, and the like. The term lower alkoxy is meant to include a lower alkyl oxy radical having its valence bond from the ethereal oxygen atom. The term aryl is meant to include monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons which may be substituted on the ring with one or two lower alkyl groups. Phenyl represents a preferred aryl group. Aryl loweralkoxy is meant to include groups I such as phenyl lower alkoxy, preferably benzyloxy. Suitable acyloxy groups are derived from alkanoic or benzoic (which may be further substituted by lower alkyl, nitro or halo) acids commonly used to esterify steroidal hydroxy moieties including, for example, acetoxy, propionoxy, benzoyloxy and the like. Examples of arylalkyl groups useful herein include phenyl lower alkyl groups such as benzyl and phenethyl. Suitable lower alkylenedioxy and arylenedioxy groups include those commonly used as a protective ketal group in steroid chemistry such as for example ethylenedioxy, l,2-propylenedioxy, 2,3-butylenedioxy, phenylenedioxy, 4,5fdimethylphenylenedioxy, 1,2-naphthalenedioxy, 2,3-naphthalenedioxy and the like. The term lower alkylene is meant to include straight or branched chain hydrocarbon radicals containing one carbon-carbon double bond such as, for example, ethylenyl, propylenyl, butylenyl and the like. In all instances the carbon chain length for each of the designated radicals is shown by the C-C designation, so for example C -C is meant to indicate a radical group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

The Diels-Alder reaction between compounds of for- I mula I and compounds of formula ll or formula III can be conducted at a temperature in the range of from about 70 to 80C., most preferably at about room temperature. An acid catalyst is employed in the reaction. Suitable acid catalysts include the mineral acids such as sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, phosphoric 10 acid, etc; p-toluenesulfonic acid and the Lewis acids such as aluminum chloride, titanium tetrachloride, borontrifluoride (preferably as its etherate) and the like. Aluminum chloride and boron trifluoride represent acid catalsts of preference for this reaction.

The reaction will generally be conducted in the presence of a suitable organic solvent :suchas ethers, i.e., ethyl ether, dioit'ane, tetrahydrofuran and the like or aromatic hydrocarbons, i:e.,- benzene and toluene, or chlorinated, hydrocarbons, i.e., methylene chloride. Ethyl ether and toluene are the solvents of preference.

It should be noted that the D-homo steroid products of the Diels-Alder reaction havethe undesired 14-13 configuration. It is necessary to subject the compounds of formula IV or formula V to an epirnerization procedure to produce the natural l 4a-configuration. This epimerization can be readily carried outusing an alkali bicarbonate, ile., sodium. bicarbonate in a refluxing lower alklanol, iZe., methanol. v

The total synthesis process of the present invention with regard to the preparation of A-ring aromatic compounds is summarized below in Reaction Scheme A.

Reaction Scheme A XIII Luo) XIV wherein R R R R and R are as above; X is a sulfonyl selected from the group consisting of C -C lower alkyl sulfonyl, C -C arylsulfonyl and terpenyl sulfonyl; and Y is C C acyl, C -C lower alkyl and C C 12 aryl alkyl.

Preferred X substituent groups include methyl sulfonyl, toluyl sulfonyl and monoor bicylic terpenyl sulfonyl, most preferably d-camphor sulfonyl. The optically active terpene sulfonyl groups such as d-camphor sulfonyl can be used as resolving groups for resolution of the molecule on which they are substituted. A preferred Y 65 group is acetyl.

The specific reaction parameters useful in the reaction steps contained in Reaction Scheme A are summarized below in Table l.

TABLE I Conditions Solvents Catalysts-Reagents Reaction Step Useful Preferred Useful Preferred Useful Preferred l) Temp. room temp. Ethers. Ethyl ether, Acids Lewis acids,

70 to 80C. aromatic toluene BF TiCl AlCl hydrocarbons, chlorinated hydrocarbons (2) Temp. reflux temp. lower Methanol Bases,e.g. NaHCO;

20 to lC. alkanols alkali bicarbonate (3) Temp. room temp. ethers, tetrahydrocomplex lithium aluminum- 0 to 65C. lower furan metal tritert.butoxyhydride alkanols hydrides (4) Temp. 0C. organic pyridine sulfonyl methane sulfonyl 20 to 40C. bases halides chloride Temp. reflux temp. lower benzenezinc dust (5) 50 to l30C. alkanols, methanol aromatic lzl hydrocarbons, organic acids, anhydrides (6) 2050C. room temp. lower glacial Pt, Pd, Ru, Pd/CaCO 1-20 atm. l atm. organic acetic Rh catalysts pressure acids, lower acid alkanols, esters (7) Temp. room temp. ethers, ethyl ether complex metal sodium bisto lower hydrides (Z-methoxy- 60C. alkanols ethoxy) aluminum hydride (8) Temp. room temp. ethers; pyridine anhydrides; acetic anhydride 20 to aromatic acid chlorides; C. hydrocarbons; organic acids chlorinated with carbodihydrocarbons; imides; alkyl organic bases halides; aryl alkyl halides (9) to reflux temp. lower tetrahydroalkali metals lithium -25C. alkylamines furan and or ammonia liquid with ethers ammonia (10) a) Temp. room temp. ethers; pyridine OsO NaClO osmium tetroxide to 50C. organic bases; 0 OsO NalO;; esters; KMnO lower alkanols b) Temp. 40 0C. ethers; tetrahydrosodium lead tetraacetate to 50C. lower furan periodate,

alkanols; lead tetraacetic acid; aromatic hydrocarbons (l l) Temp. 0 C. Water; Tetrahydro- Mineral and Hydrochloric to l20C. ethers; furanorganic acids; acid lower water inorganic and alkanols; organic bases aromatic hydrocarbons; acetic acid (12) a) Temp. 20 reflux temp, alkanols. ethyl hydroxylamine to C. organic alcoholhydrochloride bases pyridine b) Temp. 20 0C. organic pyridine sulfonyl methane sulfonyl to 50+C. bases, halides chloride aromatic hydrocarbons c) Temp. 0 reflux temp. alkanols, methanolmineral potassium to 120C. ethers, water acids, hydroxide water bases A preferred embodiment of the aspect of the present roids is summarized below in Reaction Scheme B. invention described in Reaction Scheme A is obtained wherein R R ,R R R R A, n, X and Y are as when R, and R are the same group and are either above; R is C -C lower alkylenedioxy, C C arymethyl or ethyl; R is C -C lower alkoxy, most prefera- 0 lenedioxy, H,H or HR where R is as above; and R bly methoxy; R and R are each hydrogen; X is methis 0x0, l-LH or H,R where R is as above.

ane sulfonyl; and Y is acetyl. A preferred embodiment of the aspect of the present The total synthesis ro e of the nt inventio invention described in Reaction Scheme B is obtained with regard to the preparation of A-ring saturated stewhen R and R are the same group and are either Reaction Scheme B XXII XXVIII XXIII 1 1 methyl or ethyl; R is oxo; R is C,--C lower alkylenedioxy, most preferably ethylenedioxy; R is oxo; R is C -C lower alkyl, most preferably methyl; R and R are each hydrogen; and m and n are both that is there is no unsaturat'ion in either the A or B rings. Additionally, the hydrogen atom at position 10 is preferably trans to the R substituent group. i

The specific reaction parameters useful in the reaction steps contained in Reaction Scheme B are summarized below in Table II.

TABLE II Conditions Solvents Catalysts-Reagents Reaction Step Useful Preferred Useful Preferred Useful Preferred (l3) Temp. 70 l0C. Aromatic Toluene Acids Lewis acids to 80C. hydrocarbons, BF TiCl ethers, AlCl; chlorinated hydrocarbons (14) Temp. -20 reflux temp. lower methanol bases, NaI-ICO;

to 100C. alkanol e.g., alkali bicarbonate (15) Temp. 0 reflux temp. aromatic benzene diols; ethylene glycol;

to 100C hydrocarbons; alkanols; p-toluenesulfonic alkanols strong acids acid (16) Temp. 0 room temp. ethers, tetrahydrocomplex metal lithium aluminum to 65C. lower furan hydrides tritert. butoxyalkanols hydride ([7) Temp. room temp. organic pyridine sulfonyl mesyl chlorides to C. bases halides (18) Temp. reflux temp. lower benzenezinc dust to 130C. alkanols, methanol aromatic lzl) hydrocarbons, organic acids, anhydrides 19) Temp. 20 room temp. ethers, ethyl ether complex metal sodium bis(2- to C. lower alkanols hydrides methoxyethoxy) V 4 aluminum hydride (20) Temp. 20 room temp. ethers, Pyridine anhydrides, acetic anhydride to 40C. aromatic acid chlorides hydrocarbons, with carbodichlorinated imides, alkyl hydrocarbons. halides, arylorganic bases alkyl halides (2l Temp. 50 reflux temp. lower alkyl tetrahydroalkali metals lithium to C. amines or furan and ammonia with liquid ammonia ethers (22) a) Temp. 60 room temp. ethers. pyridine OsO -NaCIO osmium tetroxide to 50C. organic bases,

esters, lower 0 OsO NaIO t alkanols KMnO. b) Temp. 40 0C. ethers, tetrahydrosodium lead tetrato 50C. lower furan periodate, acetate alkanols, lead tetraacetic acid, acetate aromatic hydrocarbons, (23) Temp. 0 reflux temp. water, tetrahydromineral and hydrochloric acid to C. ethersJower organic acids, alkanols, inorganic and aromatic organic bases hydrocarbons, acetic acid (24) Temp. 0 room temp. alkanols, ethyl Pt. Pd, Ru. palladium on to l00C. esters. acetate- Rh catalysts charcoal lower acetic l-20 atm. 1 atm. alkanoic acid acids The steroids produced as the final products of Reaction Schemes A and B are either compounds which possess valuable pharmaceutical properties or else are known intermediates in the preparation of pharmaceutically active steroids.

In reaction step (I3) of Reaction Scheme B two products are recoverable from the Diels-Alder reaction. The first of these is the compound of formula V which has the normal" configuration at C i.e., the 5 substituent group R is beta. This compound produces normal steroids when it is used as starting material in reaction steps (14) (23). On the other hand, when Where starting materials of formulae II or III are not specifically known, they may be readily prepared in analogy to the preparation of 9,10-trans-9B-methyl-lvinyl-3,4,5 ,6,7,8,9, l 0-octahydronaphthalene-6-one shown below in Reaction Scheme C.

Reaction Scheme C Me Me Me Me IIIa IIIb In process step the bicyclic enedione XXIX is treated with acetylene in the presence of lithium in liquid ammonia at 70C. The resulting ethynyl alcohol XXX is then selectively hydrogenated using 5% palladium on barium sulfate in dry pyridine in step (26) to yield the vinyl alcohol XXXI. The internal double bond can be reduced in step (27) by treatment with lithium in liquid ammonia at 70C. to yield the perhydronaphthalene compound XXXll. Dehydration in step (28) is accomplished by treatment with freshly fused potassium bisulfate and pyrogallol at 145C. at reduced pressure to yield the compound of formula Illa (R oxo, R methyl, R and R hydrogen, m and n 0).

Should it be desired to utilize starting materials of formula III wherein n is 1 then the compound of formula XXXI is dehydrated directly to a compound of formula IlIb in process step (29) using the same reagents and conditions as were employed in process step (28) above.

The process of the present invention is further described in the Examples which follow. In these Examples all temperatures are in degrees Centigrade.

EXAMPLE 1 To a solution of 2,6-dimethylbenzoquinone (1.68 g., 0.0124 M) in 20 ml. of absoluteether was added 2.32 g. (0.0165 M) of boron trifluoride etherate dissolved in 5 ml. of absolute ether. The solution was allowed to stand at room temperature for 5 minutes and then a solution of 6-methoxy-lvinyl-3,4-dihydronaphthalene (2.38 g., 0.0127 M) dissolved in 5 ml. of ether was added. After several minutes light tan crystals began to precipitate from the dark solution. After one hour the mixture was filtered and the crystals washed with ether. The crystals were dissolved in a minimum quantity of hot ethyl acetate and allowed to crystallize. In this manner 2.380 g. of 14B-3-methoxy-l7-methyl-D-homoestra-l,3,5(l0),9(l1),16-pentaen-l5,l7a-dione was obtained. Concentration of the mother liquors yielded a further 0.340 g. Total yield of dione product m.p. l94196 was 2.720 g. (69%).

EXAMPLE 2 A 200 ml. round bottom flask was charged with 1.610 g. (5.0 mM) of l4B-3-methoxy-l7-methyl-D- homo-estra-l ,3',5( l),9( l l ),l6-pentaenl 5,17a-dione; 322 mg. of sodium bicarbonate and 100 ml. of absolute methanol. The mixture was stirred at reflux until all of crystalline starting material had dissolved which took about 0.5 hours. Some of the methanol was removed at reduced pressure and 50 ml. of water was added and the light yellow precipitate which formed was filtered, washed with water and then cold ether, and dried in vacuo to give 1.521 g. (94%) of 13,14-trans-3- methoxy-17-methyl-D-homo-estra- 1,3,5( l0),9(ll),l6-pentaen-15,17a-dione, 146148.

EXAMPLE 3 A solution of 3-methoxy-l7-methyl-D-homo-estra- 1,3,5(10),9(l1),16-pentaen-15,17a-dione (1.520 g., 4.72 mM) and lithium aluminum tri-tert-butoxyhydride (2.0 g., 7.88 mM) in 50 ml. of dry tetrahydrofuran was stirred at room temperature for 0.25 hour. The solution was diluted with water and extracted with chloroform and dried over magnesium sulfate. The solvent was removed in vacuo to give a white solid which was filtered and washed with ether to give 1.433 g. (94%) of 17a hydroxy-3-methoxy-l 7-methyl-D-homo-estral,3,5(10),9(11),16-pentaen-l5-one, m.p. 21 1-213.

EXAMPLE 4 A solution of 17a-hydroxy-3-methoxy-l7-methyl-D- homo-estra-1,3,5(10),9( l l ),l6-pentaen-l5-one (1.433 g., 4.55 mM) and mesyl chloride (1.14 g., 10.0 mM and 20 ml. of dry pyridine was kept at 0 for 16 hours. The pyridine was diluted with water and extracted with chloroform. The chloroform extracts were combined, washed with HCl, brine, and dried over magnesium sulfate. Removal of the solvent in vacuo and crystallization of the crude product from etherhexane gave 1.420 g. (78%) of 3-methoxy-l7a-methylsulfonyloxy-17-methyl-D-horno-estra- 1,3,5(l0),9(l1),l6-pentaen-15-one.

EXAMPLE 5 A solution of 3-methoxy-l7a-methylsulfonyloxy-17- methyl-D-homo-estra-1,3,5( l0),9( l 1),16-pentaen- 15-0ne (1.420 g., 3.53 mM) was refluxed in 100 ml. of benzene-methanol (1:1) for 12 hours in the presence of freshly activated zinc dust. Fresh portions of zinc dust were added every few hours so that a total of about 6.0 g. was used. The mixture was filtered and the solid material washed with benzene. The filtrate was partitioned between benzene and water and the organic layer separated, dried over magnesium sulfate and the solvent removed in vacuo to give 1.176 g. (100%) of white crystalline material that showed two spots on thin-layer chromatography; the N.M.R. and IR. spectra indicated this material was mainly B,y-isomer.

The mixture was dissolved in 100 ml. of hot methanol and 0.5 g. of sodium carbonate in 5 ml. of water' was added. The solution was refluxed for 0.5 hour and extracted with benzene. Drying over magnesium sulfate and evaporation in vacuo gave 1.0 g. (92%) of 3- methoxy-l 7-methyl-D-homo-estra- 1,3,5(),9(1 1),16-pentaen-15-one. Recrystallization from benzene-hexane gave 900 mg. (83%) of pure product, m.p. 174-175.5.

EXAMPLE 6 A solution of 3-methoxy-17-methyl-D-homo-estral,3,5(10),9(1l),16-pentaen-15-one (930 mg., 3.0 mM) in 20 ml. of glacial acetic acid containing 100 mg. of 10% Pd/CaCO was hydrogenated at 1 atm. until 1 mole of hydrogen had been taken up. The catalyst was filtered and washed with benzene. The acetic acid was neutralized with aqueous sodium bicarbonate and extracted with benzene. Drying over magnesium sulfate and evaporation of the solvent in vacuo gave crude 3- methoxy-l7-methyl-D-homo-estra-l ,3,5( 10),16-tetraen-l5-one as a white solid. Crystallization from benzene-hexane gave 785 mg. (84%) of product, m.p. 142-144.

EXAMPLE 7 To a solution of 3-methoxy-17-methyl-D-homoestra-1,3,5(10),l6-tetraen-l5-one (752 mg., 2.42 mM) in 20 ml. of dry ether at room temperature was added dropwise 0.84 ml. (6.0 mM) of sodium bis(2-methoxyethoxy)aluminum hydride as a benzene solution. The mildly exothermic reaction was complete in about 10 minutes and 2.5% aqueous potassium hydroxide was added to destroy the excess hydride and the product was extracted with ether. The ether extracts were combined, washed with brine and dried over magnesium sulfate. Evaporation of the solvent in vacuo (20) gave 755 mg. of oily 3-methoxy-l7-methyl-D-homoestra-1,3 ,5( l0), 1 6-tetraen- 1 5-01.

EXAMPLE 8 The crude 3-methoxy-17-methyl-D-homo-estra- 1,3,5( l0),l6-tetraen-15-ol (755 mg., 2.42 mM) was dissolved in 15 ml. of dry pyridine and 15 ml. of freshly distilled acetic anhydride. The solution was stirred at room temperature for 72 hours, diluted with ether and the acetic anhydride neutralized with aqueous sodium bicarbonate. The organic phase was drawn off and the aqueous phase extracted thoroughly with ether. The combined ether extracts were washed with 5% HCl, brine, and dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. The solvent was removed in vacuo (20) to give a quantitative yield of crude l5-acetoxy-3-methoxy-l7-methyl-D-homo-estra-1,3,5(10),l6-tetraene as an oil. This material is sensitive to acid and heat giving a mixture of dienes.

EXAMPLE 9 The crude allylic acetate from Example 8 was dissolved in 50 ml. of dry T.H.F. and added to 200 ml. of liquid ammonia. The ammonia-tetrahydr'ofuran solution was allowed to reflux and 100 mg. (14.5 mM) of lithium metal was added. The solution turned a deep blue and this color persisted throughout the course of the reaction. After 0.5 hour small portions of solid ammonium chloride were added until the color was discharged. The ammonia was allowed to evaporate and the residue extracted with ether, washed with 5% HCl, brine, and dried over magnesium sulfate. Removal of the solvent at reduced pressure and crystallization of the crude product from ether-methanol gave 557 mg. (7 8%) of 3-methoxy-17 methyl-D-homo-estra- 1,3,5(10),16-tetraene, m.p. 96-97.

EXAMPLE 10 A solution of 3-methoxy-l7-methyl-D homo-estra- 1,3,5(10),16-tetraene (500 mg., 1.69 mM) in 17 ml. of

dry pyridine containing osmium tetroxide (476 mg., 1.87 mM) was stirred at room temperature for 2 hours. A solution of sodium bisulfite (1.02 g., 9.8 mM) in 10 ml. of water was added to the dark brown pyridine solution of the osmate ester and the solution stirred at 20 for 0.5 hour. The solution was poured into brine and extracted with chloroform. The combined chloroform extracts were washed with 5% I-ICl, dried over magnesium sulfate and evaporated in vacuo to give the crude 16,17 diol which showed two spots on t.l.c.

The crude diol was dissolved in 15 ml. of dry T.I-I.F. and cooled to Lead tetraacetate (914 mg., 206 mM) was added and the mixture stirred for minutes. The product was extracted with chloroform, washed with saturated NaI-ICO and 5% I-ICl and dried over magnesium sulfate. Removal of the solvent in vacuo gave 550 mg. (99%) of 3-methoxy-17-methyl-l6,17- seco-D-homo-estra-l ,3 ,5( l0)-trien-l6,17-dione as a light brown oil.

EXAMPLE 1 1 A solution of crude keto-aldehyde from Example 10 (550 mg., 1.68 mM) in 20 ml. of freshly distilled tetrahydrofuran was heated at 75 for 40 hours with an equal volume of 5% aqueous HCl. The solution was poured into brine and extracted with chloroform. Drying over magnesium sulfate and evaporation in vacuo gave 520 mg. of crude 3-methoxy-l9-nor-pregnal,3,5(l0),l6-tetraene. The crude product was dissolved in a small amount of methanol and cooled to promote crystallization. In this manner 317 mg. (60.5%) of pure product, m.p. 15916lwas obtained.

This material was converted to d,l-estrone methyl ether, m.p. 140-l43 by the reported Beckmann rearrangement (Rosenkranz et al., J. Org. Chem. 21, 520 (1956)) and also was demethylated to give d,l-estrone, m.p. 249-253 by known procedures.

EXAMPLE 12 To a solution of 2,6-dimethyl-1,4-benzoquinone (1.065 g, 7.82 mM) in ml. of toluene at 10 was added aluminum chloride (1.334 g, 10 mM). The solution was stirred at 10 and 9,10-trans-9B-methyl-lvinyl-3 ,4,5 ,6 ,7,8 ,9, l O-octahydro-naphthalene-6-one (1.490 g, 7.82 mM) dissolved in 20 ml. of toluene was added dropwise over a period of 10 minutes. The mixture was stirred at 10 for 2 hours and then diluted with water and extracted with benzene. Drying over magnesium sulfate and removal of the solvent at reduced pressure gave 2.6 g. of reddish adduct which solidified on standing.

Chromatography on 140 g. of SiO using 3% ether in benzene as eluent gave 1.359 g. (53%) of 501,143-17- methyl-D-hom0androst-9( l l ),16-dien-3,l5,17atrione, m.p. 187189.

In addition 677 mg. (27%) of 5a,8a,13a-17-methyl- D-homoandrost-9(1 1),l6-dien-3,l5,17a-trione, m.p. 158159.5 was obtained as well as 268 mg. (10.5%) of a mixture of the two above compounds (approximately 1:1).

The starting material may be prepared as follows:

In a l-liter 3-necked round bottom flask fitted with a mechanical stirrer and immersed in an acetone-dry ice bath was introduced 200 ml. of liquid ammonia. Lithium metal (768 mg., 0.106 M) was added and the mixture was stirred for 40 minutes. Dry acetylene was then bubbled through the solution for 1 hour, decolorization occurring after 30 minutes. Acetylene was allowed to 18 pass over the solution during the remainder of the reaction.

A solution of 9B-methyl-1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-octahydronaphthalen-1,6-dione (9.31 g., 0.0475 M) in 150 ml. of absolute ether was added dropwise over 30 minutes to the stirred solution and then stirring was continued at for an additional 1 hour. To this mixture was added slowly with stirring 160 ml. of aqueous saturated ammonium chloride solution. The ammonia was distilled off and the product was extracted with chloroform. The chloroform extracts were combined, washed with 5% hydrochloric acid, brine, and dried over magnesium sulfate. Removal of the solvent in vacuo gave 8.57 (81%) of crystalline 1-ethynyl-1B-hydroxy-9B- methyl-1,2,3 ,4,6,7,8,9octahydronaphthalen6-one. Recrystallization from ethyl acetate gave 6.22 g. (58%) of white crystalline product, m.p. 172173.

To a solution of 4.45 g. (0.0218 M) of the above ketol in 50 ml. of dry pyridine was added 0.5 g. of 5% palladium on barium sulfate. The mixture was hydrogenated at 1 atm. until 1 equivalent of hydrogen had been taken up. The catalyst was filtered and washed with ether. Most of the pyridine was removed by evaporation at reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in chloroform, washed with 5% hydrochloric acid, brine, and dried over magnesium sulfate. Removal of the solvent in vacuo gave a quantitative yield of oily 1B- hydroxy-9B-methyll -vinyl-l ,2,3 ,4,6,7,8 ,9-octahydronaphthalen-6-one.

Lithium metal (1.210 g., 0.028 M) was added to ml. of dry liquid ammonia at 70 and the blue solution was stirred in a 300 ml. 3-necked round bottom flask for 1 hour. Then the above vinyl ketol (1.19 g., 5.75 mM) dissolved in 25 ml. of dry tetrahydrofuran was added dropwise over 30 minutes. The mixture was allowed to stir for 2 hours and a crystal of ferric nitrate was added to promote destruction of excess lithium. After decolorization 40 ml. of 10% aqueous ammonium chloride solution was added while the reaction mixture was still at 70. The ammonia was distilled off and the product was extracted with chloroform. The combined chloroform extracts were washed with 5% hydrochloric acid, brine, and dried over magnesium sulfate. Removal of solvent in vacuo produced an oil which was dissolved in etherhexane to promote crystalliz'ation of 0.82 g. (68%) of 1B-hydroxy-9B-methyl-lvinyl-perhydronaphthalen-6-one, m.p. 9595.5.

Crystalline vinyl ketol from above (2.00 g., 9.62 mM), freshly fused potassium bisulfate (1.05 g., 7.72 mM) and 52 mg. of pyrogallol were crushed, mixed thoroughly and placed in a 50 ml. round bottom flask fitted with a vacuum adaptor. The mixture was heated at 60 mm. Hg and for 20 minutes and then cooled to room temperature. The procedure was repeated using 2.57 g. (12.35 mM) of vinyl ketol. The organic material in the two flasks was dissolved in a small quantity of benzene and placed directly on a column of neutral alumina (200 g., activity II). Elution with benzene gave 1.77 g. of semi-crystalline 9,10-trans-9B-methyl- 1-vinyl-3 ,4,5 ,6,7,8,9, l O-octahydronaphthalene-6-one. Further elution with a 4% ether-benzene mixture yielded 0.53 g. of crystalline starting material.

EXAMPLE 13 To a mixture of 1413-17-methyl-D-homo-androst- 9(1l),l 6-dien-3,l5,17a-trione (380 mg., 1.17 mM) in 20 ml. of absolute methanol was added 80 mg. (0.95 mM) of sodium bicarbonate and the mixture was stirred at reflux for 2 hours. The solution was diluted with water and extracted with chloroform. The combined extracts were washed with brine and dried over magnesium sulfate. The solvent was removed in vacuo to give a solid which was filtered and washed with ether hexane to give 346 mg. (91%) of a-l7-methyl-D- homo-androst-9(1l),16-dien-3,15-17a-trione of m.p. l97l98.

EXAMPLE l4 Crystalline 5a-17-methyl-D-homo-androst-9(1 1),16- dien3,l5,l7a-trione (850 mg., 2.6 mM) was dissolved in 80 ml. of dry benzene; 3 ml. ethylene glycol and 33 mg. of p-toluenesulfonic acid were added and the reaction mixture was refluxed with a water separator for 1 hour. The mixture was allowed to cool and then poured into an aqueous saturated sodium bicarbonate solution. The benzene layer was separated and the aqueous layer was further extracted with benzene. The combined extracts were dried over sodium sulfate. Removal of the solvent at reduced pressure and crystallization of the crude product from ether gave 918 mg. (95%) of 5a- 3 ,3-ethylenedioxy-17-methyl-D-homo-androst- 9(11).16-dien-15,l7a-dione, m.p. 168.5170.

: EXAMPLE A solution of9l8 mg. (2.48 mM) of 5a-3,3-ethylenedioxy-17-methyl-D-homo-androst-9(l 1),16-di en- 15,17a-dione and 822 mg. (3.24 mM) oflithium aluminum tri-tert-butoxy-hydride in 50 ml. of'dry tetrahydrofuran was stirred at room temperature for 30 minutes. The solution was diluted with water, extracted with chloroform and the combined extracts were dried over sodium sulfate. Removal of solvent in vacuo gave'crude oily 504-3 ,3-ethylenedioxyl 7a-hydroxyl 7-methyl- D- homo-androst-9( 1 1 ),16-dien-l5-one which was used without purification in the next reaction.

EXAMPLE 16 A solution of crude 5a-3,3-ethylenedioxy-17ahydroxy- 1 7-methyl-D-homo-androst-9( l 1 l 6-dien 15-one from above and 3 ml. of mesyl chloride in 30 ml. of dry pyridine was kept at room temperature for hours. The solution was diluted with ether and poured into half-saturated aqueous sodium chloride solution. The ether layer was separated, the aqueous phase was further extracted with ether and the combined extracts were dried over sodium sulfate. Removal of the solvent at reduced pressure gave crude oily 5a- 3 ,3-ethylenedioxy-17a-methylsulfony1oxy-17-methyl- D-homo-androst-9( 1 1 ),l6-dien-15-one which was used without purification in the next reaction.

EXAMPLE 17 The crude mesylate from above was refluxed in 40 ml. of benzene-methanol 1:1 for 24 hours in the presence of freshly activated zinc dust. Fresh portions of zinc dust were added every few hours so that a total of about 4 g. was used. The solid material was filtered and washed with 5 ml. of benzenemethanol (1:1). To the filtrate was added 600 mg. of potassium carbonate and the mixture was refluxed at 70 for 18 hours, cooled, diluted with water and extracted with benzene. The combined extracts were washed with 2% aqueous hydrochloric acid, saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution, brine and dried over magnesium sulfate. Removal of the solvent in vacuo and crystallization of the crude product from ether-hexane gave 774 mg. (88% 20 from crystalline diketo-diene of Example 14) of 5a- 3 ,3-ethylenedioxy-17-methyl-D-horno-androst- 9(1l),16-dien-15-one, m.p. 150152. 152.

EXAMPLE 18 To a solution of the keto-diene from Example 17 (774 mg., 2.17 mM) in 20 ml. of dry ether at room temperature was added dropwise 0.60 ml. (4.0 mM) of sodium bis(2-methoxyethoxy) aluminum hydride as a benzene solution. The reaction was complete in 20 minutes and 2% aqueous sodium hydroxide solution was added to destroy the excess hydride. The mixture was poured into half-saturated aqueous sodium chloride solution and extracted with ether. The combined ether extracts were dried over magnesium sulfate and the solvent was removed at reduced pressure (25) to give crude oily 5a-3,3-ethylenedioxy-l7-methyl-D- homo-androst-9(11),16-dien-15-ol which was used without purification in the next reaction.

EXAMPLE 19 Crude alcohol from Example ,18 was dissolved in 15 ml. of dry pyridine and 15 ml. of freshly distilled acetic anhydride. The solution was stirred at room temperature for hours and then diluted with ether and water and neutralized with solid sodium bicarbonate. The

product was extracted with ether andthe combined ether extracts were washed with 5% hydrochloric acid, brine, and dried over magnesium sulfate. Removal of solvent in vacuo (25) gave crude 5a-l5-acetoxy-3,3- ethylenedioxy-l 7-methyl-D-homo-androst-9( 1 1 ),16- diene as an oil which was used directly in the next reaction.

EXAMPLE 2O Crude allylic acetate from Example 19 was dissolved in 60 ml. of dry tetrahydrofuran and added to 200 ml. of liquid ammonia. The solution was allowed to reflux and mg. (20.0 mM) of lithium metal was added. The solution turned blue, the color persisting-throughout thereaction. After 30 minutes, small portions of solid ammonium chloride were added to the mixture to discharge the color and the ammonia was then allowed to evaporate. The mixture was diluted with waterand extracted with ether. Combinedether extracts were washed with brine and dried over magnesium sulfate. Evaporation of the solvent in vacuo followed by crystallization of the crude product from ether-hexane gave 627 mg. (84% from crystalline ketodiene of Example 17) of 5a-3,3-ethylenedioxy-l7-methyl-D-homoandrost-9( l l ),16-diene, m.p. l45147-.

EXAMPLE 21 To a solution of 5a-3,3-ethylenedioxy-17-methyl-D- homoandrost-9(ll),l6-diene (415 mg., 1.21 mM) in 15 ml. of dry pyridine-was added 338 mg. 1.33 mM) of osmium tetroxide. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1' hour and aqueous sodium bisulfite solution (760 mg., 7.31 mM; in 30 ml. water) was addedto destroy the osmate ester. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1.5 hours and the resulting orangesolution was thoroughly extracted with chloroform. The combined extracts were washed with 5% hydrochloric acid solution and aqueous saturated sodiuinbicarbonate solution and dried over magnesium sulfate. Removal'of the solvent at reduced pressure gave a crude mixture (two spots'on t.l.c.) of oily diols.

21 The crude diol mixture was dissolved in 15 ml. of dry tetrahydrofuran and cooled to 'Recrystallized lead tetraacetate (645 mg, 1.46 mM) wasadded and the reaction mixture was stirred at 0 for 15 minutes, then diluted with water and extracted with chloroform. The

combined extracts were washed with aqueous saturated sodium bicarbonate solution, brine, and dried over magnesium sulfate. Removal of solvent in vacuo (less than 50) followed by crystallization of the crude product from ether-hexane gave 355 mg. (79%) of a-3,3-

ethylenedioxy-l7-methyl-16,17-seco-D-homo-androst- 9(1 1 )-en-16,17-dione, m.p. l33-l 36.

EXAMPLE 22 A solution of keto-aldehyde from Example 21 (338 mg., 0.904 mM) in 30 m1. of tetrahydrofuran-aqueous 5% hydrochloric acid (1:1) was stirred under nitrogen at reflux (70) for 28 hours. The mixture was cooled, diluted with chloroform, partitioned and the aqueous layer further extracted with chloroform. The combined extracts were washed with aqueous saturated sodium bicarbonate solution, brine, and dried over magnesium sulfate. Removal of the solvent in vacuo followed by crystallization from ether gave 152 mg. (52%) of 5apregna-9(l l ),16-dien-3,20-dione, m.p. l95.5198.

EXAMPLE 23 To a solution of 5a-pregna-9(l l ),16-dien-3,20-dione (45 mg., 0.144 mM) in 3.5 ml. ethyl acetate and 1 ml. glacial acetic acid was added 40 mg. of palladium on charcoal catalyst, and the mixture was hydrogenated at 1 atmosphere and room temperature for 4 hours. The catalyst was filtered off and the filtrate was diluted with water and neutralized with solid sodium bicarbonate. After extraction with chloroform, drying of the extracts over magnesium sulfate and removal of the solvent at reduced pressure 42 mg. of crude material was obtained. Preparative thin-layer chromatography was carried out, eluting with benzene-ether (1:1), and mg. (33%) of crystalline 5a-pregnane3,20- dione was obtained, m.p. 207209. This material was found to be identical with an authentic sample by n.m.r., t.l.c., solution i.r. and mass spectrum.

EXAMPLE 24 -l-ethynyl-1B-hydroxy-9l3-methyl-1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-

octahydronaphthalen-6-one A 2.45g (0.355 mole) sample of lithium metal cut in small pieces was added in portions to 680 ml of dry liquid ammonia cooled to 70 (dry ice-acetone bath). The resulting blue solution was stirred for 15 min. acetylene at 70 then dry acethylene gas was bubbled through the solution for 1 hr. To the resulting colorless solution was added a solution of 30g (0.168 mole) of S-(+)-9B-methyl-1,2,3 ,4,6 ,7,8,9-octahydronaphthalen- 1,6-dione in 500 ml. of anhydrous ether dropwise, with stirring, at 70, over a 1 hr period. Stirring was continued for 2 hr at -70 then the reaction mixture was decomposed by the addition of 60g of ammonium chloride. The ammonia was allowed to evaporate and the residue was diluted with 1.5 l of methylene chloride then stirred rapidly for 45 min. The solids were filtered with suction and washed with 2200 ml portions of methylene chloride. Concentration of the combined filtrate and washes in vacuo gave 33.5 g of solid product. Recrystallization from ethyl acetate (400 ml) afforded 24.9g of crystals, m.p. 193195.

Ananalytical specimen was obtained by further recrystallization of a sample from ethyl acetate giving large pale-yellow crystals, rn.p. 195 -196"; [a] 58.62 (c 09876, DMSO):ir(KBr)3350(Ol-l) 3250 (HC I 1640 (a,B-unsaturated ketone C=O), 1615 cm (C=C); uv max (95% E-l-OH) 240 nm (6 14900); ms m/e 204 (M Anal. Calcd. for C 0 C, 76.44; H,7.90. Found:

EXAMPLE 25 lB-hydroxy-9B-methyl-1-vinyll ,2,3,4,6,7,8 ,9-

octahydronaphthalen-6-one A mixture of 11.1g (0.0543 mole) of (+)-1-ethynyll B-hydroxy-9-mcthyl- 1 ,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-octahydronapthalen-6-one,- 1.5g of 10% palladium on barium sulfate and 125 ml of pydridine was stirred in an atomosphere of hydrogen, at room temperature for 2 hr. at the end of this time 1471 ml (108%) of hydrogen had been absorbed. The catalyst was filtered with suction and washed with ether. Concentration of the combined filether furnished 0.489g of pure vinyl ketal m.p.

9899.5; ]a[ 209.76 (c 0.9716, Cl-lCl ir (CHCl 3600 (OH), 1665 (a,B-un'saturated ketone C=O), 1620 (C=C) 995,925 cm (vinyl); uv max (95% E+OH)245 nm (c 14000); ms m/e 206 (M Anal. Calcd. for C H O z C, 75.79; H.8.80. Found EXAMPLE 26 IB-hydroxy-QB-methyl-1-vinyl-perhydronaphthalen-6-one To 200 m1 of anhydrous ammonia cooled to -70 (dry ice-acetone bath) was added 0.915g (0.132 mole) of lithium metal in portions. The resulting blue mixture was stirred at 70 for 1 hr whereupon a solution of 5.4g (0.026 mole) of (+)-1B-hydroxy-9B-methyl-1- vinyl-l,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-octahydronaphthalen-6-one in ml of anhydrous tetrahydrofuran was added dropwise over a 20 min period. After stirring at. for 0.5 hr. the reaction mixture was decomposed by the addition of 25 g of ammonium chloride and the ammonia was evaporated. The residue was treated with 25 ml of water and concentrated in vacuo to remove most of the tetrahydrofuran. The residue was extracted four times with methylene chloride and the combined organic extract was washed with lN aqeous l-lCl and brine. The organic solution was dried (MgSO filtered amd concentrated in vacuo giving 5.7g of crystalline product m.p. 84.592.

This material was chromotographed on 300g of silica gel. Elution with 4:1 benzene: ether afforded 4.1 g of crystalline product, m.p. 96-102. Two recrystallizations from isopropyl ether gave colorless crystals, m.p. 103.5-105.5; [a] 26.60(C l.2932,Cl-lCl ir EXAMPLE 27 9,l- -trans-9B-methyl-1-vinyl-3 ,4,5 ,6,7,8,9,10-octahydronaphthalen-6-one l A solution of 1.6g (0.00768 mole) of lB- hydroxy-9B-methyl-1-vinyl-perhydronaphthalen-6one 1.3 ml of boron trifluoride etherate, 16 ml of dry tetrahydrofuran and 64 ml of benzene was stirred and heated at reflux, under nitrogen for 18 hr. After cooling, the reaction mixture was diluted with ether and shaken with a mixture of ice and 1N aqueous NaOH. The organic layer was separated and dried (MgSO.,) then filtered and concentrated in vacuo giving 1.39 g of yellow oil which crystallized. This material was dissolved in benzene and placed on a column of 75g of grade 11 neutral alumina (packed in benzene). The column was then washed with 4-150 ml portions of benzene. The fractions were combined and concentrated in vacuo to give 1.197 g of colorless crystalline diene.

24 orange semi-solid. This material was triturated in 75 ml of boiling ether then the slurry was cooled. The solid was filtered with suction washed with cold ether and dried yielding 2.08 g of tan solid trione, m.p. l95.5l98. A lg sample of this material was recrystallized from ethanol-isopropyl ether and then from Recrystallization of this material from hexane furnished 0.72g of colorless crystals. m.p. 50.5-6l; [a] +100.97(c 0.9557, CHCl uv max (95% E-l-OH) 231 nm (7480); ir (CHCl- 1710 (Ketone C=O), 1615 (C+C), 985,915 cm (vinyl; rns m/e (190 (M Anal. Calcd for C H O:c,82.06;H,9.54. Found: C, 82.14; H,9.62.

EXAMPLE 28 ()-l4B-l7Methyl-D-homo-androst-9( 1 1),16-dien- 3,15,17a-trione A solution of 3.48g (0.0256 mole) of 2,6-dimethyl-pbenzoquinone in 75 ml of methylene chloride was stirred under argon at to l5 while 4.48 g (0.0336 mole) of anhydrous aluminum chloride was added in one portion. The resulting mixture was stirred at for 15 min. whereupon a solution of 4.95g (0.0256 mole) of crude (+)-9,l0-trans-9B-methyl-lvinyl-3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10-octahydronaphthalen-6-one in 85 ml of methylene chloride was added dropwise, over a min period, keeping the temperature at 10 to 1 5. After stirring for 3 hr during which time the temperature was allowed to rise to 0, the reaction mixture was decomposed by dropwise addition of 170 ml of water keeping the temperature below 5. Stirring was continued for 5 min then the organic layer was separated and the aqueous layer was extracted three times with methylene chloride. The organic solutions were combined and washed with brine than dried (MgSO filtered and concentrated in vacuo giving 9.6g of ethanol affording 0.66g of colorless crystals m.p. 199.5-200.5; [a] 383.51 (c 1.013, CHCL ir (CHCl 1705 (cyclohexanone C=O), 1670 (enedione 0 C=O), 1620 cm" (C=C); uv max E+OH) 243 nm (6 10500); nmr (CDCl;;) 5 6.47 (m, l, C -H),

5.36 (m,l,C H), 1.97 (d,C CH 1.29 (s,C CH 1.15 ppm (s,C, CH3); rns m/e 326 (M Anal. Calcd for C H O C,77.27; H, 8.03. Found: C, 77.23; H,8.13. 7

EXAMPLE 29 l 7-Methyl-D-homo-androst-9( 1 1), l6-dien-3 ,15, 1 7a-trione A mixture of 0.95 g (0.00291 mole) of ()-14B-17 methyl-D-homo-androst-9(1 1), 16-dien-3, l 5.17atrione, 0.2g of sodium bicarbonate and 50 ml of methanol was stirred and heated at reflux, under nitrogen for 45 min. The resulting purple mixture was cooled and diluted with water and brine then extracted 4 times with methylene chloride. The organic extracts were combined, washed with brine then dried (MgSO filtered and concentrated in vacuo giving 0.957g of yellow foam.

This material was chromatographed on 50 g of silica gel. Fractions eluted with 9:1 benzene: ether furnished EXAMPLE 30 (+)-5a-Pregnan-3,20-dione In analogy to the procedures set forth in Examples 14-23, (+)-l7methyl-D-homo-androst-9( l 1 ),l6-dien 3,15,17a-trione was converted into (+)-5a-pregnan- 3,20-dione, m.p. 200C, [at] +122.

I claim:

1. A process for the preparation of a compound of the formula selected from the group wherein R and R both independently are C -C lower alkyl; R is hydrogen, C C lower alkoxy, C -C aryl lower alkoxy or conventional C -C acyloxy wherein the acyl moiety is derived from an unsubstituted or substituted alkanoic or benzoic acid wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl, nitro and halo; R R R and R are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen or C -C lower alkyl; R is oxo, C -C lower alkylenedioxy, C -C arylenedioxy, H,l-I or l-LR where R is C -C lower alkoxy, C -C aryl lower alkoxy or conventional C -C l2 acyloxy wherein the acyl moiety is derived from and unsubstituted or substituted alkanoic or benzoic acid wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl, nitro and halo; R is C -C lower alkyl or C -C lower alkylene, A is an additional carbon-carbon bond between positions 4 and 5; B is an additional carbon-carbon bond between positions 5 and 6; m and n are 0 or 1 with the proviso that if either is 1 then the other is O which process comprises reacting in the presence of a Lewis acid a compound of the formula wherein R and R are as above with a compound of the formula selected from the group III wherein R R R R R-,, R R A, B, m and n are as above where reaction of a compound of formula II with a compound of formula I produces a compound of formula IV and reaction of a compound of formula III with a compound of formula I produces a compound of formula V.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein a compound of formula II is reacted with a compound of formula I to produce a compound of formula IV.

3. The process of claim 2 wherein R and R are each methyl; R is C,--C lower alkoxy; and R and R are hydrogen.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein a compound of formula III is reacted with a compound of formula I to produce a compound of formula V.

5. The process of claim 4 wherein R and R are each methyl; R is oxo; R and R are each hydrogen; and n is O.

6. The process of claim 1 wherein said Lewis acid is aluminum chloride.

7. The process of claim 1 wherein said Lewis acid is boron trifluoride etherate. 

1. A PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF A COMPOUND OF THE FORMULA SELECTED FROM THE GROUP
 2. The process of claim 1 wherein a compound of formula II is reacted with a compound of formula I to produce a compound of formula IV.
 3. The process of claim 2 wherein R1 and R2 are each methyl; R3 is C1-C7 lower alkoxy; and R4 and R5 are hydrogen.
 4. The process of claim 1 wherein a compound of formula III is reacted with a compound of formula I to produce a compound of formula V.
 5. The process of claim 4 wherein R1 and R2 are each methyl; R6 is oxo; R8 and R9 are each hydrogen; and n is O.
 6. The process of claim 1 wherein said Lewis acid is aluminum chloride.
 7. The process of claim 1 wherein said Lewis acid is boron trifluoride etherate. 